Nevada County picayune., 1887-05-04
WALTER RIDLEY.
How He Happened to Hamper Seven of the
 Murphys with His Six.Shooter

was scout for Gen. Custer, and the gallant officer who perished with his brave men at the hands of the Western redskins.
 His father dying and leaving no other heir, Walter returned from the plains and took up his abode on his fine farm in Red River cOun- ty, Texas. 2S miles above Texar. kana.
 There he lives alone with his hired men, and takes great pride in keeping his farm and other pos- sessions well improved and made beautiful. He is 34 years of age, and gentleman of culture, refine ment and generosity.
 On the second of March, last, Walter was at a store on the west bank of Red river. A drummer crossed at the ferry, near the store, kept by Joe and Robert Murphy. They charged the knight of the road g. (the regular price was 90 cents), and when he expostulated with them, and re. fused to pay it, they took his sam pie case and refused to give it up. This was an outrage that Ridgely could not see perpetrated without resenting, and he finally told the ferryman that if they did not give up the sample case, he would see that the law was enforced agalnst them. This the nen resented, and "made att Ridgely. The latter knocked one of them down and, as he did so, the other reached for his pistol. Seeing this attempt, Ridgely shot him through the heart, then turning, fatally w0un- ded the other while he was draw ing his pistol.
 For this killing Ridgely surren dered to the officers and was dis charged on the ground of self.de. fense,
 Soon after this killing John aud Tom Murphy, brother and uncle of the men killed. crossed over from the Indian Territory and, making head quarters in the Ridgely neighbOrhood, openly vowed to take his life.
 A couple of weeks passed and nothing had occurred, but Ridgely had kept close to his home and ever on the alert. Finally he had occasion to visit neighbor who lived few miles away, and re- mained at his neighbours house until about sundown. Then he mounted his horse and rode away, but as he rode along he was sud denly startled by the report of two guns discharged from behind trees near him. His horse was shot dead and fell to the ground and the rider rolled over on the side opposite to the would.be as- sassins. Believing their aim had been unerring, the Murphys ap' preached to view the corpse. But when they approached to within ten feet of the corpse it sprans up with a pistol in each hand and began firing upon them. Result: Both men were shot down and killed Ridgely escaping without injury.
 Soon after this tragedy the two remaining brothers of the first men killed, together with their last un, cle, left the Territory and swore that they would kill Ridgely or be killed. To carry out their threats they went to his barn and created a disturbance among the horses. Hearing this Ridgely hastened to go out and see what had happened, not forgetting however, to take his faithful revOlvers along. Just as he entered the barn lot he was fired upon. He dropped to his knees and returned the fire. At this instant the outlines of three men could be seen, firing at the man on his knees. A brisk fire was kept up for some seconds, and when it had ceased two men lay dead on the ground and the third one dying. Ridgely was shot through the left arm, through the right breast and in the shoulder. He is now doing well, and it is believed that he will soon be up and about his business.- Ar. kansas Democrat.
 A girl, being banlered one day by some of her female friends in regard to her lover, who had the